PROJECT COMPASS: Libraries Lead the Workforce for the 21St Century

PROJECT COMPASS: Libraries lead the workforce for the 21st Century

Ideas from Tallahassee ~ April 15, 2011

Idea Generators from tallahassee

1.  Ask local businesses to donate inexpensive flash drives so that job seekers can save their resumes and take the flash drives with them.

2.  Make a display for annualcreditreport.com to alert patrons to the free site that is sanctioned by the government.

3.  Target services to new or new-to-be unemployed state employees. Set up a support group for them.

4.  Partner with Radio Shack, etc., to do a technology petting zoo for small businesses.

5.  Get involved with the Chamber or Extension Agent’s Leadership programs and offer to talk about library services.

6.  Develop personal relationships with specific small businesses and be their library resource

7.  Hold a “BUY LOCAL” fair at your library and invite local small businesses to set up displays. Let the local media know what you are doing and why and try to get them to advertise it for free in advance as well as cover it in their media.

8.  Provide the editor of your newspaper with the editorial “How to Kill a Small Town.”

9.  Have a handyman or woodworker build some simple “business card display units” and set up a display in your library to hold the business cards of local small businesses. Be sure to display it in a prominent location with appropriate signage such as, “Thank you for supporting our LOCAL businesses.”

10.  Invite your local Workforce Board to do a presentation of their services – first to your staff so they can help patrons, and then to those who may need help from the Workforce Board.

11.  Make sure your patrons who are in need understand that Workforce is for anyone, not just those on government aid.

12.  Have a “How to Increase Your Odds of Getting a Job Through Social Networking” or “7 (?) Secrets to Getting Your Next Job Using Social Media” workshop, including the following:

·  who to “follow”

·  how to get information

·  what to post

·  how to find information on general job skills as well as specific industries

·  explain that some job listings will only be posted on Facebook and Twitter

·  how to use friends you already have to do job searching/networking for you

13. Collaborate with your Workforce Board:

·  Find out where they are and when they are there.

·  Will they come to the library to offer services? Will they come IN?

·  Make sure they know what services are available from the library to help jobseekers, small businesses, and those needing financial help – and make sure they are telling their clients.

·  If you have only a mobile Workforce unit, ask them to help you help patrons understand the best way to utilize their services.

14. Find “scholarship students” who need volunteer hours and have them come in and offer tutoring and/or workshops in basic computer skills, how to create a website (for small businesses), how to gather information from resources, etc.

15. To assist small businesses or those who want to start a business:

·  Show them what technology can do for them and address their concern that “we don’t need a computer (or website) yet because we’re too small.”

·  Make them aware of what you have to offer small businesses or someone starting a small business.

·  How can they find funding?

·  Gather ideas from local businesses to develop a “resource guide” for those considering starting a business.

·  Give them resources on how to create a website inexpensively (www.weebly.com, etc.).

16. www.wildernesscoast.org, training section, has videos of tutorials offered during past LSTA grant programs.

17. Conduct a “budgeting apps for phones” class. Expand the idea to include physical fitness apps, etc. (mint.com might be one site).

18. Have information on www.angelfoodministries.com available in your library for those who need basic help with putting food on the table.

19. To get people excited about saving money during tough times, conduct a “Super Saver Contest.” Give an award to the person with receipts documenting the most savings over a specified period of time. Solicit gift cards from local grocers.

20. Offer classes on how to maximize savings (when is buying in bulk best, is Sam’s Club really a savings tool, etc.).

21. Excel - how to use it as a budgeting tool.

22. Have resource guides available in the library for local/online financial workshops and resources. Sprinkle them throughout the library so no one is embarrassed by asking at the desk.

23. Draw heavily on community volunteers to promote savings programs; many are proud of saving money!

24. Have a volunteer hold a cooking class on how to fix nutritious but inexpensive meals.

25. Have a financial planner or banker conduct a workshop on “Getting Ready to Retire” since many people are considering that option in the downsized economy.

26. Consider conducting a survey of your patrons to see what THEY say they need! Put signage up around the library announcing the survey.

27. Promote “Learning Express.”

28. Have a list of items a job applicant will need when applying for a job (driver’s license, etc.).

29. Conduct a “How to Sell Online” workshop (eBay, etsy, zazzle, cafepress, etc.).

30. Create a wiki page for small businesses.

31. Conduct a “Meet Your Local Businesses” night at your library. Ask restaurants or delis to sponsor the food portion of the evening.

32. Gear a workshop on how to use credit wisely to college students or recent grads so they avoid the pitfalls as they are looking for a job.

33. Research “Endorsed Local Providers” on the Dave Ramsey website and see if some of them will hold a workshop on appropriate topics.

34. Possible topics for other workshops: “How to Know if Work-from-Home Offers are Legitimate”; “Which Credit Counseling Entities are Legitimate?”

35. Train front line reference and other staff to help job seekers. Provide staff with “cheat sheets” on how to find certain information, resources available, etc.

36. Consider using podcasts for some of the training made available to patrons – just make sure it’s from a reliable source.

37. Build a website of links to locally-owned businesses’ websites. Partner with the Chamber of Commerce.

38. Is there a local business co-op? Promote it and use it – provide a meeting room at the library.

39. Create a “continuous volunteer pool” by contacting churches, local clubs, community organizations, and high school guidance counselors to help them understand your goals in helping the unemployed.

40. Talk to your staff about “compassion fatigue” and how to deal with it – be sure to include your volunteers.

41. Target workshops to “seniors” who are retired but need income.

42. Establish a coupon club and hold a 1-hour workshop about what sites are available, where to find coupons, etc. Consider having “boxes” for extra coupons that people can go through to see what they can use – or what they can bring for someone else to use.

43. Partner with local banks; host financial workshops for them.

44. Connect with your Workforce board to see if they have grant funds available to obtain laptops specifically for job seekers.

45. Find out how to connect with employers or agencies that are facing layoffs. “Catch them early” so you can get the job seekers help immediately. Be proactive.

46. Market resume writing/interview workshops to already-employed people to give them a sense of control.

47. Make sure job training is geared toward types of jobs that are available.

48. Have the Library Director or the Friends Guild join the Chamber of Commerce to begin building relationships.

49. Create a “How Did We Help?” card to solicit testimonials about how your library helped someone secure a job, helped someone feel more comfortable with computers, helped some polish their interviewing skills, helped someone get control of their finances, etc.

50. Don’t focus on long-term classes or repeat visits – have “just in time” classes.

51. Make sure your library is exhibiting at any job fairs in your area, even if you have to leave the library.

52. Make online tutorials/training easy to find and easy to access; you won’t always need to use paid staff or instructors. You may be able to use volunteers who would not be comfortable with actually teaching, but would be happy to help by “monitoring” or “mentoring.”

53. Develop long-term relationships with four levels of government: SBA, Department of Revenue, Paying unemployment taxes, Occupational Licensing.

54. Don’t forget to collaborate with other libraries.

55. Hold a “money-saving idea” swap night.

56. Hold a series of “lunch and learns” featuring local businesses.

57. Utilize free promotional materials such as tent cards, bookmarks, etc., from http://support.gale.com/gale/index.html, including information on DemographicsNow and Small Business Resource Center, which might be helpful to small businesses.

58. Create local maps highlighting local business locations.

59. Use ReferenceUSA to create lists of potential employers.

60. Help patrons create a delicious account to keep track of links and resources at www.delicious.com.

61. Encourage Workforce to conduct some of their workshops inside your library, possibly explaining who is eligible for their services and what services they offer.

62. Survey your patrons who need help to see when the best time to hold events/workshops/training would be. Some may have to arrange childcare, attend when their spouse is home, etc.

63. Be aware of Money Smart Week and tie in events and workshops.

64. For tax day, collaborate with volunteers who will offer help to senior citizens, low income, recently unemployed, etc.

65. Make sure you are using http://www.flelibrary.org effectively.

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